category : Museums
When Jasper Ware, an early Nebraska City banker took his wife, Ellen Kinney, to the west edge of town, pointed out the heavily wooded area south of Arbor Lodge, and said he wanted to build her a country home on the site, she responded, "Oh Jasper, I couldn't live in these wild woods!" Thus the name "Wildwood" was given to the Victorian house. Built in 1869, Wildwood Historic Home was considered a "Country Home" in the days of horse and buggy suburban living.

While touring the ten-room home, visitors get a feel of the Americana Era. The Ware family's belongings and the many articles donated to the home reflect the finest cultural aspects of the time. The two parlors are decorated with period furnishings, oriental rugs, velvet, and lace. Visitors will enjoy the ebony grand piano and the beautiful R.S. Prussia and Haviland China in the dining room, the hand-crafted ettigere in the south parlor, the burled walnut banister of the hall stairs, and the fully appointed bedrooms upstairs. Visitors will be amazed by the crazy quilts and handwoven coverlets on the beds dating back to the early 1850s.

The original brick barn, adjacent to the house, has been converted into an art gallery and gift barn. The gallery is a showcase for crafts-people and artists from the Midwest who rotate on a monthly basis from April through October.

Admission: $3 for adults and $1.00 for children. Hours: Open daily April through October. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Address: Steinhart Park Road Phone: 402-873-6340

Attractions and Upcoming Events

This two-story, Georgian brick structure is the oldest public building in
the state of Nebraska still in use. The building was completed in 1865
when Otoe County was formed and Nebraska City named the county
seat. Inside, several photos and displays portray the building's history.

On July 20, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set foot on the gently sloped banks of what is now known as Nebraska City and considered it an "ideal site for a future city." About 40 years later, the original Fort Kearny was built at this spot.

The Nebraska City Post Office, built in 1886, was a Richardson style building that would attract anyone's attention. Roughly around the same time, Farmers Bank and Trust Company was established. The bank was the only locally owned bank in Nebraska City at the time.

The focus will be on more than 400 scientific discoveries of flora (178 plants) and fauna, (122 animals) made at President Thomas Jeffersons direction on their historic Corps of Discovery Journey from 1803-1806.